Saudi Crown Prince has talks with Archbishop as concern grows over war in Yemen
The controversial figure has faced criticism over Saudi Arabia’s role in Yemen’s civil war.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince on the second day of his visit to the country.
Justin Welby saw Mohammed bin Salman at Lambeth Palace in London as concern over Saudi Arabia’s role in the war in Yemen continued to cause controversy.
Amnesty International UK’s director Kate Allen said: “We hope Justin Welby used the meeting as an opportunity to personally communicate the Church’s concerns over the thousands of Yemeni civilians killed and injured in reckless and indiscriminate Saudi-led coalition air strikes.
The meeting with the Archbishop came after Prime Minister Theresa May and the Crown Prince used Downing Street talks to lay out plans for a £65 billion trade and investment package.
The Prime Minister also raised the situation in Yemen with the Saudi royal.
The Crown Prince is holding further talks with the PM at Chequers on Thursday, including a private dinner with Mrs May at her official country residence.
Foreign policy issues, including Yemen and Iran, are expected to feature in the talks.
Yemen has been embroiled in a bloody civil war since 2014 when rebels took over the capital city of Sanaa.
Saudi Arabia is the main player in a coalition supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis in a war which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Crown Prince has been the driving force behind a modernisation programme, Vision 2030, in Saudi Arabia but the reforms have been dismissed as a “mirage” by human rights campaigners.
